“Is it that guy you brought to the party?”The vein running down the middle of Luis’s forehead is big and angry, as if it’s about to burst at any moment.
“Guy?”I laugh.“It’s none of your business.”I look over my brother’s shoulder, finding Karen hasn’t moved.She’s just gawking at a hopefully only half-naked Vinnie.“Next door, Karen.”
My brother starts toward my bedroom, but I use my body as a human shield.“You better move,” he tells me, like somehow, he’s become my protector and my father.
“This is my house, Luis.”I hold out my arms, leaving him no way to get around me as we stand at the entrance to the hallway.
“You better get your ass out here, you punk,” Luis calls out, practically foaming at the mouth.
“You stay in there!”I yell over my shoulder because the last thing I need is Vinnie and Luis getting into a fight.“You need to takeKarenand leave.”
Luis’s dark eyes narrow.“He’s not right for you.He’s using you, Bianca.”
I laugh bitterly.“Maybe I’m using him, brother.Ever think of that?”
Luis straightens, but his glare is still icy cold.“You trust too easy.”
“I trust no one,” I tell him.The reality of my words hits me.I don’t trust anyone anymore.Not after the way men have treated me in the past.
Karen comes bouncing out of the bathroom like she’s oblivious to the shitstorm she’s created.“Nice to meet you,” she says to Vinnie as she passes by the bedroom.
“You too,” he replies, and a small piece of me dies.
Luis and I are staring each other down as Karen wraps an arm around his back.“I’m ready, Daddy.”
I almost puke at the nickname.There’s something so wrong with women who call men “Daddy.”In role-playing or BDSM, I can tolerate it, but in real life, standing in front of his family, it’s totally disgusting.
“Yeah, Daddy, you better go.”
Luis snakes his arm around Karen’s shoulders, but he hasn’t looked at her yet.He’s too busy giving me the death stare to look down.“He and I are going to have words.”
“You want to have them now?”Vinnie says from behind me.
My brother’s hard stare slices to my bedroom, and I know I’ve got to defuse the situation, or you know, remind Luis who’s boss.
“Get out.”I point toward the doorway, blocking my brother’s ability to get down the hall and try to beat the piss out of Vinnie.I turn toward Vinnie.“Go back into my bedroom and shut up.”
Vinnie’s eyebrows rise before a smile creeps across his lips.“Yes, ma’am.I like it when you’re bossy.”
I glare toward the ceiling and mutter a string of curse words.“Go, Luis, and take Karen with you.”
“We’re still going to have words.”
I roll my eyes.“Not tonight, big brother.”
“Leave your sister alone, Daddy.She’s living life.She’s young.Let her have fun.Would you rather she be all alone here tonight?”
Luis’s hard glare softens, but he doesn’t relax.“No.”He sighs.“But I still don’t like it.”
“You’re not supposed to.She’s your sister, but damn, man, give her some space.She’s got a hottie in her bedroom.That sounds like a solid Friday night.Do you want to have fun with me, Daddy, or stay here and argue?”
I want to puke.There’s something about Karen and Luis that activates my gag reflex worse than deep-throating a cock.I cover my mouth and swallow, somehow keeping down the Chinese food.
“You’re right, beautiful.Let’s get out of here.My sister and I will talk another day.”
“Oh, goodie.I can hardly wait,” I say behind the hand that’s still covering my mouth.
Luis stares at me for a few more seconds.“Be smart, Bianca.”
